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Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Cams, the $64,000 question

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Howdy SRay! I know of Smokey, but sadly for us he is gone. I bet he could have done some fine kangaroo chopping in his day.
 
One of the first 'engine' books I read was the Smokey one... think I was like 13.



The 'hot air engine' good link and read here What Ever Happened To Smokey's Hot-Vapor Engine? - Hot Rod Magazine



I was toying with the idea of getting the Hamilton 181/210 cam. 700+ bones is nothing to sneeze at... especially since I had to have my p-pump rebuilt ( plus while it was apart had them do some voodoo as well). LOL Talk of NOT sharing secrets. Try getting info from a P-pump builder.



Since the pump was off... and the tappet cover needed replacing AND a small leak at the front cover... figured now or never to do a cam. I did find an article here from 2002 where there was talk about a '400' degree drop in temp with the DD cam. BUT still real secretive about what the specs were. I believe it was an 'in shop' only thing and were not sent out for you to install your self.



Now that was 10 years ago... can't believe the no one is making 'that' cam or one better a decade later? I know that hamilton did a bunch of back to back testing of cams and posted the results... (his cams only I believe). Maybe it is time for a TDR article on cams... take one of each and get to it.
 
A TDR article on a Cam shootout would be amazing.

C'mon Joe... lets get it done!! Ill volunteer your truck and my labor if everyone else here volunteers cams. :)
 
A TDR article on a Cam shootout would be amazing.



C'mon Joe... lets get it done!! Ill volunteer your truck and my labor if everyone else here volunteers cams. :)



That was be very interesting. Lot of work but it would debunk a lot bunk.



I called several manf and most were tight lipped. I understand why but I wasn't trying to look behind the curtain, I just wanted to ensure I would be purchasing what I needed. Unfortunately I cannot spend my money on a product because the gentleman selling it said it was good.
 
JohnsonJim: I have that mag with Smokey Yunik's hot vapour engine. Very interesting reading.



Nyoest: Funny thing is, ALL the cam manufacturers advertise pretty much the same numbers for lowering egt's, increasing mileage, making power. Strange.



So there's no Go Das Biggin Shtickin for Kangaroo Choppin or go home cams here.



Shawn
 
Oh there's definitely a chopping stick to be had, somewhere. We just have to make sure we don't grab a stick with a messy end.

Is there any books or reading anyone can suggest for diesel performance pertaining to cams? All my diesel experience has been to restore it to proper working order by OEM spec.
 
Nyoest: Very true. :-laf:-laf



Very little info is out there about cams for diesels. Everyone is working very hard to keep the actual specs a secret while giving up the easy numbers that don't mean ***** as to the actual performance.



If we have the cams, we can actually figure out the specs with measurements and testing them which is better, then post the info.



Shawn
 
I wonder if a credible agent were to contact a few manufactures if they would donate cams for testing? Probably not but it is a very interesting idea.
 
Nyoest: Yeah. Maybe if we have Robert's multi-phasic cannon, that should convince them to hand them over. :-laf
 
I bet if you measured the cams you would find very little if any difference in most of them. My suspicion is that a lot of people have "borrowed" there cam from someone else
 
Don't know that this helps much, but:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=64><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 48pt; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17 width=64>Stock intake lift: . 235</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Helix intake lift is north of . 265</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Stock intake duration : 155 degrees</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Helix is north of 180</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Stock exhaust lift is . 297</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Helix is north of . 280</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Stock exhaust duration is 192</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Helix is north of 202</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>12V Stock:</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>INT: 159° . 235” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>EX: 204° . 263” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>102 LDA</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>24V Stock. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>INT: 159° . 235” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>EX: 206° . 297” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>107. 5 LDA</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>24V 3rd gen. </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>INT: 163° . 237” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>EX: 191° . 299” Lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>98. 5 LDA</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" height=17></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>24v 6. 7L</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Int. . 237” lift</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12. 75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12. 75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0" class=xl65 height=17>Exh. 299” lift</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Sorry for the formatting... copy and past never works well for me and can't be edited to look better.
 
What I find interesting on this topic is that those who KNOW and have made comments are tight lipped.



There are a bunch of dyno sheets posted on Hamiltons forum of different cams vs competitors...



I think that if we get someone to do a dyno cam swap... it would be on a 3rd gen... not much action for us "old skool" 12 valvers on this forum anymore. LOL



Since mine is apart I might as well just pull the old cam anyway and throw my money down on a cam. I need some help at this elevation and with my turned up pump will also need a charger to help keep cool. It's only money... right? ha ha ha.
 
Jim "tight lipped" is putting it mildly.



I saw hamiltons info but I was hoping to verify similar real world experience with members here. I am from Missouri, you will have to " show me"



3rd gen testing is Ok, if the independant testing shows the same data as the cam manf. as to EGT drop and and horse I would tend to think they would be good to go for other cams.



I'm used to no love for a twelve valve from the aftermarket anyhow. Someplaces when you call them it's like it physically causes them pain to talk about a truck that old. It'll be fun in another fifteen years!;)
 
Jim if you would care to discuss it, what cam do you intend to go with?



Looking at either the 181 or the 188 from Hamilton. I would like to have a 'new' cam and not a re-grind.



I have not called to discuss my needs/issues with them yet...



I did call once to get a fuel pump essentric measurement... and the guys put down the phone and went over and measured up one for me. I discussed why and they said good luck and thanks for calling.



I called PDR about their p-pumps and asked a bunch of q's... and got basically a brush off. I decided to not even ask about cams. LOL



Do I have any reason to pick Hamilton over Colt or Helix or Diesel Pros. Nope. Just that I have not heard any complaints over on the Comp D board. I think those guys will call a spade a spade if need be. Again... not scientific reasoning... but atleast Zach has participated in the forums and posted SOME info... that is more than anyone else and their "claims" without even any specs they posst on line.



Now... if I did not have the pump and front cover off already... would I do a cam. Humm. Tough choice. I just know that at the elevation I am at with just a 10 plate... it could get rather smokey when towing. Now with 375cc's of fuel, a cam and a set of twins will probably be needed. LOL



Who did you talk with that gave you the run around? (if u don't mind saying"?



Jim
 
Jim I'm not going to run any particular shop down. I earlier posted about my discussion when I called Hamilton and it was almost verbatim. The young man was in a rush. Doesn't mean I won't buy from them but it did make me take pause.



I've called a lot of places for customer vehicles and with out fail the newer the vehicle the better you are treated. I spoke with a few vendors face to face at Indy and most were pleasent and happy to talk until they found out what year my truck was. Most clamped up tight and stopped making eye contact or glazed over and got the well placed Uhuh. I might as well of told them I was homeless. Never mind the fact I drug a 16,000 pound camper 900 miles with the old truck.



Two places that have been stellar to deal with and that I met at Indy are Industrial injection and Danville performance. I've never spent a dime with Danville yet they are happy to answer my questions. I send all the duramax business I can their way.
 
Here is colts info


Cummins 5. 9 Cam Spec
* * Duration Cam Lobe Description
Prof. I. D. # * @ . 050 ADV. Lift Sep
* INT. 159° * 0. 235 102. 0 Stock 2nd Generation 12V 1994-1998. 5
* EXH. 204° * 0. 263 * *
* INT. 159° * 0. 235 *107. 5 Stock 2nd Generation 24V 1998. 5-2002
* EXH. 206° * 0. 297 * *
* INT. 163° * 0. 237 98. 5 Stock 24V C. R. 2003-2007
* EXH. 191° * 0. 299 * *
Stage 1 INT. 175° * 0. 251 103. 0 Hi Torque bottom end Fuel economy cam
*C. 332. S EXH. 206° * 0. 297 * $300. 00 (regrind price)
Stage 2 INT. 175° * 0. 251 104. 0 New Torquer Cam (Better exh. Flow)
*C. 341. S EXH. 210° * 0. 307 * $325. 00 (regrind price)
Stage 3 INT. 181° * 0. 280 106. 0 Big Stick best all round power Cam
*C. 343. S EXH. 210° * 0. 307 * $375. 00 (regrind price)
Stage 4 INT. 181° * 0. 280 107. 5 Straight drop in good to 4400 rpm
C. 346. S EXH. 218° * 0. 323 * Phone or use our contact page for price and info
Stage 5 INT. 199° * 0. 296 108 Valve clearance required good to 5000 rpm
C. 349. S EXH. 218° * 0. 323 * Phone or use our contact page for price and info
 
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